This 212.2-mile drive from Pine Grove Mills, PA to Erie, PA will take you approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip with an estimated fuel cost of $35. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads like Science Park Road, Valley Vista Drive, and North Atherton Street, with no highway driving involved. The route offers a turn-heavy local feel, making it an engaging journey rather than a simple point-to-point transit. Given its duration and nature, it's well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.8 miles from Pine Grove Mills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
102.7 mi
1h 50m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
Port Matilda Highway
10.1 mi
14m
I 99
7.1 mi
7m
Philipsburg Bigler Highway
7.1 mi
8m
PA 26
3.4 mi
6m
Woodland Bigler Highway
2.8 mi
3m
West 12th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,034 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,382
Quietest
2 AM
~182 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 78 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine Grove Mills, PA and Erie, PA.
1
Start on PA 26
9 ft·0 sec·South Water Street
2
Turn slight right onto PA 26
3.4 mi·6 min·PA 26
3
Turn left onto Science Park Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Science Park Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on Valley Vista Drive
2.1 mi·4 min·Valley Vista Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 322 Business
0.5 mi·54 sec·North Atherton Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn straight onto US 322 Business
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 322 Business
Toward I 99 South, US 322 West, US 220 South
7
Merge onto I 99; US 220; US 322
7.1 mi·7 min·I 99; US 220; US 322
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·28th Division Highway
Exit 62Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
9
Continue on US 322
10 mi·14 min·Port Matilda Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·2 min·Railroad Street
11
Turn right onto US 322; PA 53
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Centre Street
12
Continue on US 322; PA 53
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Front Street
13
Continue on US 322
7.1 mi·8 min·Philipsburg Bigler Highway
14
Continue on US 322
2.8 mi·3 min·Woodland Bigler Highway
15
Turn right onto PA 970
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawville Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
17
Merge onto I 80
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
19
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
21
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
2.3 mi·4 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
State Street
Trip Plan
For this 3 hour and 35 minute drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic, especially on local roads. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $35, and plan your refueling accordingly. Pay close attention to the numerous turns indicated by the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. A specific tip: be mindful of speed limits within the towns you pass through, as they can change frequently on these local routes.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.8 miles from Pine Grove Mills, PA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 47 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Erie, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pine Grove Mills, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pine Grove Mills, PA
This is one driving day of about 211.5 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Pine Grove Mills, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 102.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 211.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|Science Park Road
Turn left onto Science Park Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
14.9 mi into trip|~23m in|US 322 / 28th Division Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 / 28th Division Highway toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 62
Toward US 322 West: Philipsburg
5
39 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
208.5 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Take the exit toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
6
211.1 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.34 one way
$70.68 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$38.89
$77.79
premium
$5.01
$41.73
$83.47
diesel
$5.60
$46.62
$93.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.21
$10.15
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.51
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.61
$13.54
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Aug 31, 2026
Origin
Pine Grove Mills, PA
Afternoon
in Pine Grove Mills on Friday
Local time
1:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Erie, PA
Afternoon
in Erie on Friday
Local time
1:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this journey. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the entire 212.2 miles. There isn't a 'longest stretch' provided, suggesting frequent intersections and changes in direction are characteristic of this route. The driving experience will likely involve navigating through various communities and local traffic patterns, requiring your attention at each turn. This isn't a high-speed cruise; instead, it's a more involved, ground-level exploration.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near Science Park Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 211.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (Science Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (US 322 / 28th Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 211.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Erie, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (Science Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (US 322 / 28th Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Erie, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
